§ Mr. Nottasked the Minister of Technology what additional scientific study and progress has been made on the problems of oil pollution since the publication of the Warren Spring Laboratory Research Report, made to Her Majesty's Government and dated April, 1962.
§ Mr. BennThe development by Warren Spring Laboratory of an improved oily water separation is now in an advanced stage.
My Ministry is represented on a Working Group on Beach Contamination of 291W the Institute of Petroleum, Local Authorities and Government Departments, initiated last year by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government.
§ Mr. Nottasked the Minister of Technology between what cost bracket he estimates the expense per square yard of spraying an oil-polluted beach with solvents and emulsifier and the equivalent cost of spraying an oil slick on the sea.
§ Mr. BennThe cost of spraying a beach is estimated to be between 2s. and 10s. per square yard. The cost of spraying an oil slick at sea is of the same order excluding the cost of manning and operating the vessels required.